VOL. 52 ISSUE 4 JANUARY 27, 2015 P23
CARMICHAEL TO BE INDUCTED INTO
MOTORSPORTS HALL OF FAME
T
he Motorsports Hall of Fame
of America announced its
27th class of inductees at Dayto-
na International Speedway, a list
of legends representing a variety
of racing disciplines. Ricky Car-
michael, Walker Evans, Warren
Johnson, Tommy Kendall, Mark
Martin, Duke Nalon, and Lloyd
Ruby will be inducted Thursday,
June 18, at Detroit's historic Fill-
more Theater.
"This year's class truly reflects
the wide range of American mo-
torsports—which has always
been the foundation for our facil-
ity," said Ron Watson, president
of the Motorsports Hall of Fame
of America. "These gentlemen
achieved success on two wheels
and four, on dirt and pavement,
on every kind of track—plus off
the road entirely."
The Motorsports Hall of Fame
of America is racing's Coopers
-town, memorializing achieve-
ment in all forms of motorized
competition. Over the years,
216 motorsports luminaries have
been inducted. The 99-person
nominating panel itself reads like
a "who's who" of racing, with
stars such as Mario Andretti,
Don Garlits, Craig Breedlove and
Richard Petty involved in the pro-
cess.
Friday's announcement was
made in the Daytona International
Speedway media center as part
of the Rolex 24 At Daytona week-
end, with domestic and interna-
tional media in attendance.
"I am honored and humbled to
be inducted into the Motorsports
Hall of Fame of America," said
Carmichael who attended the in-
duction announcement. "As a kid
growing up racing dirt bikes I nev-
er would have thought something
like this was possible for me. To
be in the company of some of
the greatest names in motors-
ports is surreal. As you look at all
of the great athletes and people
that are in the Hall of Fame, it is
hard for me to believe that I will
be included among names like
Ward, Hannah, Earnhardt, Petty
or Garlits. This recognition is truly
an honor."
Carmichael achievements: He
won a 125cc Supercross Cham-
pionship and three consecutive
outdoor motocross titles before
jumping to the 250cc class for
Supercross in 1999 and moto-
cross in 2000. All told, he com-
piled 10 consecutive National
Motocross titles, three in the
125cc class (1997-
99) and seven in the
premier class (2000-
'06). In the 2002
outdoor season, Car-
michael won all 24
motos contested that
year. He repeated that
achievement in 2004.
Carmichael amassed
a career total of 150
victories. His 102 mo-
tocross victories is an
all-time record.
Ricky Carmichael will
be inducted into the
Motorsports Hall of Fame
in June.
